Thursday, May 13, 1999
Council concedes racial bias in sewer district
BY DAN KLEPAL
The Cincinnati Enquirer
City leaders agree there are racism problems in the Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD), but they don't agree on what to do about it.
City Manager John Shirey told city council members Wednesday he has met with about 20 MSD employees who have complained that race plays a role in promotions, along with hiring and firing practices at the agency.
A report filed by the city's Affirmative Action Committee, which looked at 1998 statistics, shows that among MSD's 105 top employees — administrators and professional staff — only five are black men and six black women.
Mr. Shirey said the employees want a consultant brought in to discuss solutions to the problem, but he couldn't confirm how much it will cost.
“I think anything that improves race relations is good,” Mr. Shirey said. “There is a long history here. But I don't even know if (MSD) will proceed (with the consultant) at this time.”
City Councilman Charlie Winburn said he heard the consultant will cost about $100,000. He said spending that kind of money on one department is a misguided and half-hearted attempt to cure the problem.
“We need policy changes to get at the root of the problem. You do have systemic problems that perpetuate institutional racism,” Mr. Winburn told Mr. Shirey Wednesday.
“But throwing money at
the problem to make people feel good about their skin color isn't the answer,” he said.
Overall, 16.5 percent of the sewer district's 673 employees are black men, with another 13.8 percent women (4.6 percent black women), according to the Affirmative Action Committee report.
Discipline appeared to be more balanced. Of the 66 employees disciplined, 36 were either black male or female, the report says.
Vice Mayor Minette Cooper applauded Mr. Shirey for trying to improve race relations in the MSD.
“This was a top priority four years ago, and we've done nothing about it since,” Ms. Cooper said.
Councilman Tyrone Yates agreed: “There are a lot of city managers who wouldn't even recognize that these steps need to be taken.”
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